Leaves all over my usual cycle path. Back to the road for the winter for me :-(
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
"Severe weather warning"
(7379 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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"Didn't see any big branches down on the Meadows"
A few larger ones down now, nothing enormous but a couple that would cause some harm if they hit you.
A few decent gusts that might catch out a few.
Telephone wires blown down (or more likely taken out by a tree bent in the wind) in my street this morning.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Edinburgh Castle's brand new flagpole has snapped.
Back to looking at the clouds to see which way the wind is blowing (my office has a good view).
https://stv.tv/news/east-central/1398986-flagpole-on-top-of-edinburgh-castle-breaks-in-high-wind/
Posted 7 years ago # -
@finn
Leaves all over my usual cycle path. Back to the road for the winter for me :-(
I was out walking on NEPN today and, if like last year, the council doesn't remove the leaves, I can't imagine I'll cycle much this winter.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Trampoline on the WoL path under Newhaven Road. Not sure if put there by wind or idiocy.
Posted 7 years ago # -
So Random Question Whats everyone's views on Cycling in the strong winds? I left the bike at home today, but want to Cycle tomorrow. However, I'm nervous about a large 14 stone bloke + large heavy Rucksack on top of a lightweight Carbon bike in strong winds and I can see the top-heavy bit and a strong wind landing me on my side?
Any Tips to Riding in the wind, specifically on the Roads?
Posted 7 years ago # -
@stepram- I'm 18st and though I'm not on a carbon bike, am conscious of being top heavy. Generally in strong winds, tailwinds are more fun, headwinds are hard work but pretty safe, it is crosswinds (and especially gusts) you need to worry about.
I go across the bridge in any conditions where it is open and there I am subject to pretty fierce side winds. I generally stay a little more on the upwind side allowing for a sudden gust and lean slightly into the wind, not so far that if the wind suddenly drops that you are over!
As far as roads are concerned, I take a slightly longer route to avoid roads where I can and, where I can't, I ensure I use my eyes and ears as much as possible to anticipate driver behaviour. Good drivers will see that a cyclist is wobblier than usual and give more space, but unfortunately, inside their metal boxes, most are often unaware of your struggles and don't alter their behaviour at all.
If you do go out, take note of the forecast windspeed, direction and where you felt uncomfortable or exposed. Next time you will know that if you felt really scared at 35mph SW in an exposed part of the route, that you may not want to be there in 45mph in the same direction.
If you are worried about the bike, maybe apply n+1 and get a less special bike for rougher weather? A hybrid for cheapish MTB new or 2nd hand from the bike statuion?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Best to avoid deep section wheels
Posted 7 years ago # -
@amir, nice tip. Do they change wheels in the crosswinds at tour de France?
Crosswinds on my commute are the trickiest thing, blowing you into path of traffic. So remembering which side streets are likely to have the strongest crosswinds is my tip.
Came back up the WoL Path last night to avoid the westerly. No trees down yet and drier than of late.
Posted 7 years ago # -
i bailed yesterday, and was 50/50 today but decided to bail, although now an hour later it looks rideable - anything about 35 and i wont ride, and the FRB website was saying avg 31 gusts of 40.
i'm 74kg and i wonder if its better to be heavier in winds rather than lighter!!!!!?!?!?! something maybe for Cycling Weekly to research.
hope everyone rode ok this morning?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Thanks everyone, I'm going for it today, commute to from Fairemilehead to Sighthill, through Colinton, Fingers crossed!
Posted 7 years ago # -
As a 9 stone female, I always assumed that being heavier would be better, so it is interesting to hear you heavier folks saying different!
My O/H is about the same weight as me but he does say that he thinks that his better upper body strength is helpful in the wind.
I was OK on the Brompton yesterday, and came in on the road bike today which was hard work (and about 8 minutes slower) but not alarming.Posted 7 years ago # -
Being heavier is definitely better. I'm not that heavy at 74kg, but having ridden with people in the 40-odd kg mark it is evident that they get blown all over the place compared to me. Weight is your friend.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I think heavier is better, but also being taller is an issue- when I'm on my hybrid I'm very upright, have a higher centre of gravity and have to fight harder to maintain the bike, than if I was on the drops on my CX bike
Probably being heavier with a low centre of gravity is the optimum.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Probably being heavier with a low centre of gravity is the optimum."
Contrarily size/side profile must be an issue.
"I was OK on the Brompton yesterday"
"Best to avoid deep section wheels"
Posted 7 years ago # -
I remember being on a sea kayaking leaders course when it was really windy. The instructor told us to assess likely capsizers to assess who to look out for (maybe put the most likely to capsize in doubles) - he looked at us all and pointed at me (6'5" with most of my height in my back) and said "If anyone capsizes today it will be you" Then went through people in descending order of height with thicker set people of the same height being considered less likely to capsize.
Posted 7 years ago # -
“
Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples: “It’s really nothing particularly unusual for this time of the year but it does come after the windy weather we had yesterday.
“The good news is that Thursday and Friday are looking quite a lot better for most people.”
“
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland-s-weather-high-winds-and-rain-forecast-for-tonight-1-4576683
Posted 7 years ago # -
....50mph forecast for 6am tomorrow.....
Posted 7 years ago # -
Stay in bed or get the train!
Posted 7 years ago # -
mmmmmmmmm beddddddddddddddd
Posted 7 years ago # -
....50mph forecast for 6am tomorrow.....
fake news
40 tops
Posted 7 years ago # -
so i didnt stay in bed :-)
yes fake news @BAX was about 31mph according to their web page, was ok over the FRB though and then a tailwind as i rode east to work, always a pleasure :-)missed the rain too :^)
Posted 7 years ago # -
I could definitely feel my core muscles doing a bit of work this morning.
Also appreciated drivers giving me more space seeing my struggles.
Posted 7 years ago # -
My wheels were spinning round
As were the leaves
This morning's warmth delays
The covering of fingers
The lengthening of sleevesPosted 7 years ago # -
Can someone check the Edinburgh thermostat? Disconcertingly warm oot.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@unhurt I thought my weatherstation's outside temp sensor was faulty this morning when I woke at 6am and it said 17C.
(My Garmin was registering just 7.5C along parts of my route into work yesterday morning!)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Met Office saying Monday night and into Tuesday for the high winds.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Came home from holiday to discover the satellite dish was no longer firmly attached to the house. Neither us nor the previous residents have ever used it and the bracket had finally had enough of the prevailing winds.
Posted 7 years ago #
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